Identity
Person No.
33888
Old ROH no.
1671
Service No.
75519041BG
Last Name
First Name
David Herculaas
Initials
D H
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
25
Military Service
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
KIA 14,310
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action, during a SWAPO attack on the temporary base in the Jati. The medic did his best at the time but lost the fight after 5 minutes
Grave Reference
Location
Country
Locality
Cemetery
Coordinates
Notes
Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. M. R. Wilters, of Theunissen.
Citations
Unknown
External References
-
SADF.info Border Roll of Honour
SADF.info Border RoH
- South African War Graves Project
Stories 2
22 December 1977. David Wilters was serving on the Angolan border when the contact took place. He and the rest of his section of ten men were out on a standard ten day patrol in the Yati. He was stationed at Ombalantu at the time with 4SAI. He was a 60mm mortarist and partenered with Kevin Adank on this patrol. For some reason the Lt (Foster) in charge of the platoon as well as the platoon corporal (I think Singleton) were 'staying' at this particular shauna which is a kind of mini oasis where water would pool in the rain periods of January. The volcano like crater made a perfect base for the night and offered protection as well as the circular shape allowing the men to spread around the circumference. It was first light on the morning of 22 December 1977. The section leader had woken up and gone to relieve himself 50m away from the 'camp'. As he returned to his sleeping bag position all hell broke loose and there was a full scale contact. Kevin Adank was shot in the arm. David had also been shot and was in a bad way. Someone read from the only (english) bible to David as he lay there. The rest of the detail will be known only by those who were there. It was my bible that was used to read to David. Thirty one years later and I can still remeber his face.
Yes, David was mortarist but he was in charge of the 7,62 Browning machine gun that we had with us on that patrol. I remember this well as he had given me a lecture on this gun a few days before. I am not 100% sure but I seem to remember that an RPG rocket hit a battery box close to where he was sleeping and this was what caused his terminal wounds. A quiet, unassuming chap with perfect manners. I only got to know him because I was interested in the Browning. I will never forget David or that night.
Dedications 1
Your spirit and memory will never die. 4 SAI